“Among those reportedly interested in the District 5 seat are Julian Davis, president of the board of Booker T. Washington Community Service Center; Gabriel Haaland, political director of SEIU Local 1021; Phil Ginsburg, Recreation and Park Department Director; and Michael O’Connor, the co-owner of the Independent Music Hall. Breed, who directs the African American Cultural Center on Fulton Street, has expressed interest in the position. She has a large segment of the Black activist community behind her, pushing Mayor Lee to appoint her as supervisor. “London is a woman who is definitely qualified to sit in that seat,” said Bridgette LeBlanc, with Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA). ‘She is a native San Franciscan who was raised and works in the community. She is a leader who is electable, and she can build bridges.'”

5. She is a 2008 “graduate” of Emerge California, which encourages women to run for elective office. And when I say “encourages,” I mean pressures. (Signing up for Emerge** is kind of like saying that you plan on running for office (or higher office) sooner rather than later.) Anyway, the questions Mayor Ed Lee’s people would have for London concern her commitment for becoming and maintaining her position as Supervisor, right? So, London, if not now, when?

6. She is the Worst Case Scenario for San Francisco’s progressives, IMO. She would be a train wreck for them, actually. So as far as Ed Lee’s political faction is concerned, picking anybody else would be an unnecessary risk.

“On Saturday, April 24, San Franciscans opposing Mayor Newsom’s and Police Chief Gascón’s Sit-Lie ordinance will stage a follow up event to last month’s hugely successful “Sidewalks are for People” citywide celebration of public space and culture. Last month’s event shifted the momentum against the ordinance, creating a media frenzy that reached all the way to London and the BBC World Service.”

All the deets below.

A shrine for the sit/lie ordinance seen recently on Haight Street:

“Since the March event, the SF Planning Commission and the San Francisco Democratic Party have rejected the ordinance recognizing that a number of laws already exist to address problem behaviors on sidewalks and that sidewalks should be open to public gatherings. This month’s event promises many more colorful and exciting sidewalk celebrations.

SIDEWALKS ARE FOR PEOPLE PART II
All-Day / Citywide Event on Saturday, April 24 in San Francisco

VISUALS: A fabulous drag queen show, musicians, colorful/creative signs, tea parties, and sidewalk sit-ins.
WHEN: Saturday, April 24, throughout the day (See highlighted events for times.)
WHERE: Events planned throughout the city. Here are some highlights. Contact Andy for more info and updates: 415-533-4694.

Music in the Castro: Local musicians playing at Harvey Milk Plaza with the audience sitting and lying around. Castro and Market Streets. Noon – 2:00. Contact Tommi Avicolli Mecca 415-522-6031

Poetry Workshop in the Mission: A poetry workshop while sitting and lying on the sidewalk. 2-3:30pm. Florida Street between 23rd and 24th. Contact: Tiny 510-435-7500

WHAT: SIDEWALKS ARE FOR PEOPLE is a decentralized, citywide celebration of San Francisco’s public space, vibrant culture, and tradition of compassion. People across the city, will be doing what they love on sidewalks (without obstructing them!): barbecues, chalk drawing, chess, yoga, reading, knitting, jump rope, playing music, painting, tea/coffee parties, sunbathing, meditating, DJing, hanging out, tai chi, dancing, anything they like!

WHY: San Francisco mayor, Gavin Newsom, and Police Chief George Gascón are pushing the Board of Supervisors to pass a law that would make it illegal to sit or lie on the sidewalk anywhere in San Francisco. We think it’s a violation of basic civil liberties and counter to San Francisco values to criminalize the act of sitting in public space. We think public spaces are safer when people are encouraged to use them to meet with neighbors, friends, family and others.

We believe our sidewalks reflect the diverse, vibrant culture of our city. We believe in freedom of expression, the right to peaceably assemble, and the pursuit of happiness on our sidewalks!

We acknowledge and empathize with legitimate fears or frustrations that people encounter in this city as they share public space with others, but we believe there are better solutions than criminalizing innocent behavior. For starters check out, “A Very Different Approach to the Sit-Lie Law” by Gabriel Haaland. http://tinyurl.com/alternative2SitLie###
PHOTOS, VIDEOS, A COMPLETE LIST OF MEDIA COVERAGE, AND MORE AT:www.StandAgainstSitLie.org

The powerful San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee is, once again, having elections come November. You’ll be confronted, once again, with a ballot that’s filled with a bunch of names, most of which you’ve never heard of, and the obligation to check off your dozen favorites.

If you want, you can head over to the intersection of Market and Octavia this Saturday, April 3, 2010 and then head into the the LGBT Center‘s Ceremonial Room from Noon to 5:00 PM. Then you’ll be able to see and hear some of the candidates for DCCC in 2010 address members of the Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club.

They’ll all be answering a few questions from the crowd. (I don’t know if you need to be a member of the club to drop by, but you should be able to join the club, of course, if you want.)

The 12th District (Assemblywoman Fiona Ma country) reps the west side and 13th District (Assemblymember Tom Ammiano country) reps the east side of town, mas o menos. Find your district and see if any of these folks will be one of your twelve favorites:

And, oh yes, Alex Volberding would like everyone to know that he too is running for the DCCC in the 12th. But the two lists above aren’t exhaustive, they just show who plans on showing up at the next Milk Club PAC meeting. (The entire exhausting list of candidates for S.F. has 51(!) names this go-around.)